Sex and the Traveling Life

Huh! Now that I have your attention, I’ve been considering this post for quite a while – since I was in SE Asia – but kept wondering if it was appropriate and have obviously finally decided it is.

Sex is everywhere in life, but becomes truly noticeable when you’re traveling, especially as a solo woman. For a celibate 64-year-old widow, I’ve had my share of exposure during this grand adventure. Here’s a few incidents:

In SE Asia beginning in the Philippines, one the first thing that struck me was the occasional much-older man with a lovely young Asian woman (always of age, in my experience) serving as his companion, but sometimes his wife. This continued into Thailand and Cambodia.

In Malaysia, I was walking to the mall down a busy street when a young man – no older than 30 – pulled over and gestured what he’d like me to do for him. I was horrified.

In Bali, I was propositioned three times by young men, looking for a gigolo hookup. Each time I was repulsed:

Once by my waiter, who was 21

Another time as I sat at a table along the wall between a restaurant and the beach

By a married driver who was taking me to a different city

I have been told by men in the hostels where I’ve stayed here in Central America that there are prostitutes who work the downtown streets, although I’ve never noticed them myself.

On the positive side, in the hostels I’ve seen many young people become romantically involved. I do mean romantically. I’m sure there are the undertones I’m not aware of, but many legitimate relationships begin in hostels.

I have met a couple of men who I found interesting but not enough to knock me out of my status. But even as a significantly older woman on her own, a solitary woman will have opportunities for male companionship if that’s on her mind.